Repeating the same colour in different parts of an outfit is a simple and effective styling tool. It often helps pull together an outfit by creating a cohesive and attractive visual balance between the components. I specifically used the word “outfit”, not “ensemble”, because outfit = ensemble + YOU. In other words, you can use your own features as colour repitition tools. 

Bookending is just colour repetition when the repeated colours are near the top and bottom of your outfit. This is particularly powerful because of the emphasis created by items that bracket, or “bookend” your look. But note that subtle colour repetition of items that are far apart on your outfit might not register, so bookending is most effective when the repetition is obvious.

Here are 13 examples of colour repetition and bookending that I often employ, either on myself or on my clients. Some are obvious and others are more subtle. The list is by no means exhaustive.

1. Bags with Footwear: This is a traditional way to create outfit cohesion. Although mismatching bags and footwear has been all the fashion rage, matching the items never went out of style. In fact, the matchy-matchy integrity of bag and footwear looks fresh to my eye. 
2. Belts with Footwear: Another traditional way to create outfit cohesion when fully tucking a top, or casually semi and faux tucking. I repeat colours in this way quite often.
3. Belts with Bags: A little more subtle than belts with footwear, but just as visually effective.
4. Tops with Footwear: We’ve probably all worn a top in a dark or light neutral and matched it with the same colour footwear. 
5. Tops with Bags: This is less common, but pretty fun, especially when the repeated colour is a bright.
6. Footwear with Hair Colour: This bookending strategy works like a charm. Blondes wear light and white footwear with ease. Redheads rock orange and cognac footwear. Dark haired ladies look great in black footwear. And burgundy footwear looks amazing with burgundy highlighted hair. 
7. Footwear with Eye Colour: I learnt about the power of this method this year. One of my clients can wear a pair of light turquoise ballet flats with all her Summer outfits because they bring out her vibrant, light turquoise eyes. 
8. Hosiery with Hair Colour: Gals with black hair look great in black opaque tights. 
9. Bottoms with Hair Colour: Black haired gals wear black skirts and pants with ease. Redheads wear rust bottoms with ease, and light blondes in particular have little trouble putting together outfits with white and cream bottoms. 
10. Scarves with Belts: A great option for Team Scarf, especially when scarves are kept on indoors. 
11. Scarves with Footwear: This method works particularly well with brights.   
12. Scarves with Bottoms: This creates a colour blocked effect when the items are high contrast against the top. 
13. Scarves and Eye Colour: Another subtle method that is quite stunning when you have bright green or blue eyes.  

Bear in mind that colour repetition that relies on a handbag is lost when you put your bag down for the day at your desk. I also use my white specs to bookend white items in my outfit. Of course, this method will only work for Team Specs. 

Colour repetition in outfits is certainly not essential, but it is useful. Sometimes when an outfit doesn’t look quite right, it will come together when you bookend two of the components. Over to you. Do you employ colour repetition or bookending in your outfits?

I debuted a new topper on our recent trip to Los Angeles. It’s the 3×1’s coated zip jacket made of coated stretch denim. It’s quite rigid and I enjoy that because it makes the item look extra pristine. The futuristic funnel neck and graphic black and white colour block detailing made it love at first sight. I enjoy wearing white year round, so the expanse of bright white on the piece sang to me too. I am not a sporty gal, but have thoroughly enjoyed adding the occasional sporty piece — like this jacket — to my wardrobe. 

We shot these photos in sunny Santa Monica at the gorgeously art deco Georgian Hotel. Southern Californian weather beats dodging the rain and chill in Seattle, especially at picture taking time. We need to visit more often. 

Wearing the jacket open, half zipped, or completely zipped creates different visual effects. Keeping the jacket open and the collar folded down in front, showcases the black parts of the jacket thereby emphasizing its colour blocked integrity. The jacket is a lot more white when zipped up. Zipping it half way creates further variations, and I like them all. The high funnel neck makes my long neck very happy. 

The topper makes a strong statement, so a dead simple wardrobe essential like a tailored turtleneck or crew neck looks best underneath. These items in black are a particularly strong pairing because they extend the white and black colour block. I also like the jacket matched with a boat neck in a solid bright, a simple stripe, or a subtle animal print. But the black backdrop is the true winner so that’s how I’ll wear the jacket most of the time.

The soft merino wool of the turtleneck provides a cozy juxtaposition against the rigidity of the jacket. I keep the turtleneck untucked to create a column of colour under the topper. No faux tucking with a belt. 

This is my only pair of dark wash jeans, zippered at the ankles and five years old. They are my second favourite pair of blue jeans, (my jodhpur jeans are my all time favourites), because I love the fit, length, lack of stretch, comfort and low rise. They never bag out and always look polished. My goodness, though. These skinnies feel really tight now that I wear looser jeans and trousers more frequently. But I do enjoy the change of silhouette so it’s all good. 

I first paired my flat white Beatle booties with the outfit and liked that combination. But wearing bright white footwear reduced the statement of the white jacket, so I swapped them out for booties that are a similar colour to the jeans. Greg much preferred the outfit with dark booties, and so do I. 

I had a sleek pair of black patent pointy toe booties with a low heel on my shopping list. After trying on designer pair after designer pair, nothing quite fit the bill. Toe boxes were the wrong shape, heels were too high or too low, and a little rubbing discomfort on the shin was usually the case. Plus I have little tolerance for booties that gape at the ankles these days, so that was a problem too.

To my surprise, Zara’s ink blue leather ankle boot with neoprene ankle fit the bill perfectly. I don’t normally look to Zara for footwear, so this was another reminder to leave no retail stone unturned. The silhouette and heel height are spot on, and the tailored fit around the ankle is ideal. The neoprene upper is super soft and does not rub at all. These are my “black booties” for the season and I’m thrilled with them. I’ve already worn them seven times in three weeks, increasing their comfort by adding a cushioning insole. I love that they are blue and sufficiently streamlined to wear with skirts and dresses. They aren’t quite as comfy as my lower heeled and flat booties, but I’m not complaining. 

I finished off the outfit with sporty citron clutch, white specs, and silver watch and wedding ring. This is one outfit that does not need extra bells and whistles because of the drama of the jacket. Although the dramatic topper makes the outfit, I also enjoy the simple combination of turtleneck, jeans and boots. Sometimes I’ll keep their fits tailored, like here, and sometimes a lot more fluid and baggy. Either way, it’s a modern classic combination that I will wear forever.

This morning we sent out the second issue of the redesigned YLF newsletter. The newsletter is a visual recap of the outfits, ensembles, advice and trends posted during September. There is also a section dedicated to the first part of Angie’s Fashion Week coverage. 

If you aren’t yet a subscriber, please consider signing up. Note that this applies to forum members too, because the newsletter and the forum are two separate signups.

When you sign up for the newsletter you can also ask for daily email updates for the YLF blog and finds area, but this is optional.

Finally, you can see the September newsletter here if you didn’t receive the email version that went out this morning.

The man coat is a wool coat that is shaped like a modern classic menswear coat. Its silhouette is often knee-length, with a narrow revere collar, angular lapels, low stance and horizontal welted pockets. It can be single or double breasted, and with no more than two rows of buttons. It is cut straight through the torso with a slightly sharp shoulder. There is little waist definition, and it hangs as beautifully open as it does buttoned up. It’s a very masculine looking coat that is the opposite of playful, feminine, whimsical, arty, avant-garde and flirty. 

The man coat is one of the “new” coat looks for this season and seasons to follow. It’s pretty fringe at the moment, but might gain popularity over the years. Yes, it looks like a classic coat that has been around for ages. And it has — in the menswear department. But that ultra low stance, straight roomy fit on the waist, and sculptured shoulder make it a pretty different version to what’s been on offer in ladies wear. And 20 years ago, a similar silhouette had sky-high shoulder pads and side entry pockets. It’s as if you bought the man coat in the menswear department this year. To my eye it is a fresh wool coat shape. 

The style does come with warning bells. First, if you like coats that define the waist, bypass this style. It will not give you a tailored shape around the torso. It’s not as deliberately sack-like and voluminous as a cocoon coat, but it’s pretty shapeless, and especially unstructured at the back. That’s the point of the style. Second, you will need a scarf to stay warm in this coat when it’s really cold (but not cold enough for a puffer coat). The low stance is not as insulating as a high stance of a large collared coat. 

I want my next coat to be a man coat because I’m in love with the silhouette. It’s deliciously plain, crisp and strict. I adore the simplicity and unstructured structure of the design. Beautifully tailored on the shoulders and hips, but not on the torso. The low stance is fashion forward and very current. It drapes like a dream in a quality fabric. And since all my wool coats are tailored, I welcome this silhouette as a fun change. 

I pinned some street style shots of the man coat in stylish action and the pictures illustrate the versatility:  

• With jeans, sweater and sneakers
• Dressed up over a layered sheath dress
• With shirt, blazer, tapered pants and pumps
• Over a sleek column of colour
• Easy turtleneck, jeans and flat booties

Over to you. Do you like the new man coat?